Patterns and outcome of neonates with congenital anomalies in a neonatal intensive care unit: a retrospective study

Abstract Background Congenital anomalies (CAs) are a leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality, particularly in low-resource settings. Data on the burden, risk factors, and outcomes of CAs in Egyptian NICUs remain scarce. This study aimed to investigate the patterns, associated risk factors,...

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Main Authors: Amira M. Sabry, Yasmeen Mansi, Halaallah Zeinelabdeen, Amir Fawzy Kamal
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2025-07-01
Series:Egyptian Pediatric Association Gazette
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s43054-025-00402-6
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author Amira M. Sabry
Yasmeen Mansi
Halaallah Zeinelabdeen
Amir Fawzy Kamal
author_facet Amira M. Sabry
Yasmeen Mansi
Halaallah Zeinelabdeen
Amir Fawzy Kamal
author_sort Amira M. Sabry
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Congenital anomalies (CAs) are a leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality, particularly in low-resource settings. Data on the burden, risk factors, and outcomes of CAs in Egyptian NICUs remain scarce. This study aimed to investigate the patterns, associated risk factors, and short-term outcomes of neonates with CAs in a tertiary NICU in Egypt. Methods This retrospective observational study reviewed 100 neonates with major CAs admitted to Cairo University Pediatric Hospital NICU between February and September 2019. Clinical data were collected from medical records and supplemented by structured parental interviews. Anomalies were classified according to the EUROCAT system. Results Cardiovascular anomalies were the most common (34%), followed by anomalies of the ear, nose, and oral region (34%) and central nervous system (18%). Male infants accounted for 57% of cases, and 51% had consanguineous parents. Sepsis occurred in 75% of cases, most frequently in those with cardiovascular defects (40%). The overall mortality rate was 39%, with cardiovascular anomalies responsible for 51.3% of deaths. Consanguinity was significantly associated with cardiovascular anomalies (P < 0.05). Conclusions CAs, especially cardiovascular and CNS defects, remain a leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality in Egyptian NICUs. Strengthening early screening, infection control, and consanguinity counseling may significantly reduce adverse outcomes.
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spelling doaj-art-b68f68e7a6bd4cf1aa2682ec106918bb2025-08-20T03:37:23ZengSpringerOpenEgyptian Pediatric Association Gazette2090-99422025-07-017311810.1186/s43054-025-00402-6Patterns and outcome of neonates with congenital anomalies in a neonatal intensive care unit: a retrospective studyAmira M. Sabry0Yasmeen Mansi1Halaallah Zeinelabdeen2Amir Fawzy Kamal3Pediatrics Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo UniversityPediatrics Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo UniversityPediatrics Department, Road El Farag General HospitalPediatrics Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo UniversityAbstract Background Congenital anomalies (CAs) are a leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality, particularly in low-resource settings. Data on the burden, risk factors, and outcomes of CAs in Egyptian NICUs remain scarce. This study aimed to investigate the patterns, associated risk factors, and short-term outcomes of neonates with CAs in a tertiary NICU in Egypt. Methods This retrospective observational study reviewed 100 neonates with major CAs admitted to Cairo University Pediatric Hospital NICU between February and September 2019. Clinical data were collected from medical records and supplemented by structured parental interviews. Anomalies were classified according to the EUROCAT system. Results Cardiovascular anomalies were the most common (34%), followed by anomalies of the ear, nose, and oral region (34%) and central nervous system (18%). Male infants accounted for 57% of cases, and 51% had consanguineous parents. Sepsis occurred in 75% of cases, most frequently in those with cardiovascular defects (40%). The overall mortality rate was 39%, with cardiovascular anomalies responsible for 51.3% of deaths. Consanguinity was significantly associated with cardiovascular anomalies (P < 0.05). Conclusions CAs, especially cardiovascular and CNS defects, remain a leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality in Egyptian NICUs. Strengthening early screening, infection control, and consanguinity counseling may significantly reduce adverse outcomes.https://doi.org/10.1186/s43054-025-00402-6Congenital anomaliesNeonatal intensive care unitCardiovascular anomaliesConsanguinityNeonatal mortalityMaternal complications
spellingShingle Amira M. Sabry
Yasmeen Mansi
Halaallah Zeinelabdeen
Amir Fawzy Kamal
Patterns and outcome of neonates with congenital anomalies in a neonatal intensive care unit: a retrospective study
Egyptian Pediatric Association Gazette
Congenital anomalies
Neonatal intensive care unit
Cardiovascular anomalies
Consanguinity
Neonatal mortality
Maternal complications
title Patterns and outcome of neonates with congenital anomalies in a neonatal intensive care unit: a retrospective study
title_full Patterns and outcome of neonates with congenital anomalies in a neonatal intensive care unit: a retrospective study
title_fullStr Patterns and outcome of neonates with congenital anomalies in a neonatal intensive care unit: a retrospective study
title_full_unstemmed Patterns and outcome of neonates with congenital anomalies in a neonatal intensive care unit: a retrospective study
title_short Patterns and outcome of neonates with congenital anomalies in a neonatal intensive care unit: a retrospective study
title_sort patterns and outcome of neonates with congenital anomalies in a neonatal intensive care unit a retrospective study
topic Congenital anomalies
Neonatal intensive care unit
Cardiovascular anomalies
Consanguinity
Neonatal mortality
Maternal complications
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s43054-025-00402-6
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AT halaallahzeinelabdeen patternsandoutcomeofneonateswithcongenitalanomaliesinaneonatalintensivecareunitaretrospectivestudy
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